Friday, May 30, 2008

Fishy Who’s Who?
With Project WILD Aquatic’s activity “Fishy Who’s Who?,” students look at local fish habitats, species that occur in these habitats, and locate the fish species on a map. To help students locate and research Iowa fish, be sure to use the “Biodiversity” CD. This CD is available from the Aquatic Education Program's office.

As an extension to this activity, contact your local fisheries office or experienced angler and ask where good fish habitat is that is close to your school/nature center. Take your students to the location, and point out what makes it a good fish habitat, and look for the fish that live there.



Book List
PreK – 2
Cook, B. 2005. The Little Fish that Got Away. HarperCollins.
DK Publishing. 2006. Duck Pond Dip. DK Publishing, Inc.
Heinrichs, A.R. 2003. Fish. Coughlan Publishing.
Knudson, M. 2005. Fish and Frog. Candlewick.
Lionni, L. 1974. Fish is Fish. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Long, E. 1987. Gone Fishing. Houghton Mifflin.
Pfeffer, W. 1996. What its Like to be a Fish. Harper Trophy.
Prosek, J. 2004. A Good Day’s Fishing. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Quigley, M. 2007. Granddad’s Fishing Buddy. Dial.
Sayre, P. 2007. Trout, Trout, Trout: A Fish Chant. Northword Books for Young Readers.
Wells, E. 2006. Wishing I was Fishing. Beaver’s Pond Press.
Yoo, T. 2007. The Little Red Fish. Dial.

Grades 3-5
Amdahl, P. 2000. The Barefoot Fisherman: A Fishing Book for Kids. Clearwater Publishing.
Brewster, B. 1988. Discovering Freshwater Fish. The Bookwright Press.
Burger, C. 1960. All About Fish. Random House.
Carney, M. 2002. The Biggest Fish in the Lake. Kids Can Press Ltd.
Fitzsimons, C. 1988. My First Fishes & Other Water Life. Harper & Row Publishers, Inc.
Fletcher, A.M. 1971. Fishes That Travel. Addison-Wesley.
Goetz, D. 1973. Lakes. William Morrow and Company.
Heinz, B. 2000. Butternut Hollow Pond. Millbrook Press.
Lionni, L. 1974. Fish is Fish. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Morrison, G. 2002. Pond. Houghton Miffllin.
Parker, S. 2005. Fish. DK Publishing, Inc.
Pfeffer, W. 1996. What its Like to be a Fish. Harper Trophy.
Rinehart, S. 2004. Eliza and the Dragonfly. Dawn Publications.
Sanders, S. 2002. Crawdad Creek. National Geographic.
Sill, C. 2005. About Fish: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.
Silver, D. 1994. One Small Square: Pond. W.H. Freeman and Co.

Grades 6-8
Fletcher, A.M. 1971. Fishes That Travel. Addison-Wesley.
Heinz, B. 2000. Butternut Hollow Pond. Millbrook Press.
Morrison, G. 2002. Pond. Houghton Miffllin.
Pratt-Serafini, K. 2001. Salamander Rain: A Lake & Pond Journal. Dawn Publications.
Rinehart, S. 2004. Eliza and the Dragonfly. Dawn Publications.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Aquatic Habitats

People sometimes feel helpless when a problem arises in their community. Yet many times an individual’s actions can start the process of resolving community issues. Students, especially, have initiated many community projects that have improved the way of life for people, wildlife, and plants.

Project WILD Aquatic’s activity “Something’s Fishy Here” enables students to make a difference in their own communities. Be sure to refer to the “Taking Action” section in your Project WILD Aquatic guide for additional information and ideas regarding action projects. Don’t forget to make connections with community organizations in your area for ideas or help with service learning projects.

Book List
Grades 6-8
Amov, B., Jr. 1965. Secrets of Inland Waters. Little, Brown & Company.
Atkins, J. 2000. Girls Who Looked Under Rocks: The Lives of Six Pioneering Naturalists. Dawn Publications.
Cochrane, J. 1987. Water Ecology. The Bookwright Press.
Collard, S. 1999. Acting For Nature: What Young People Around the World are Doing to Protect the Environment. Heyday Books.
Cone, M. 1996. Squishy, Misty, Damp & Muddy: The In-between World of Wetlands. Sierra Club.
Elliot, S.M. 1975. Our Dirty Water. Julian Messner.
Gibbons, G. 1998. Marshes & Swamps. Holiday House.
Giesel, T. 1971. The Lorax. Random House Children’s Books.
Goetz, D. 1973. Lakes. William Morrow and Company.
Greenaway, F and Taylor, B. 1992. Look Closer: Pond Life. Econo-Clad Books.
Heinz, B. 2000. Butternut Hollow Pond. Millbrook Press.
Hidetoma, O. 1986. Insect in the Pond. Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers.
Lelooksa. 1997. Echoes of the Elders: The Stories and Paintings of Chief Lelooksa.. DK Inc.
Lepthien, E. and Kalbacken, J. 1993. A New True Book: Wetlands. Childrens Pr.
Miller, D. 2000. River of Life. Clarion Books.
Morrison, G. 2002. Pond. Houghton Miffllin.
Parker, S. 2000. Pond and River. Dorling Kindersly Publishers.
Pratt-Serafini, K. 2001. Salamander Rain: A Lake & Pond Journal. Dawn Publications.
Rinehart, S. 2004. Eliza and the Dragonfly. Dawn Publications.
Sanders, S. 2002. Crawdad Creek. National Geographic.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Endangered Species

May 16, 2008 is the third annual Endangered Species Day. Project WILD’s activity “Back from the Brink” takes a look at extinction by letting high school students analyze the complex human and environmental issues involved in reintroducing a species in an area. In addition to (or in place of) the three animals listed in the guide, students can research the recovery of peregrine falcons and bald eagles in Iowa.

Check out the Iowa Supplement to Project WILD for additional information on endangered species in Iowa.



Book List
Grades 6-8
Benson, S. 2003. Endangered Species. Gale Research, Incorporated.
Burnie, D. 2004. Endangered Planet. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Caduto, M. and Bruchar, J. 1997. Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children. Fulcrum Publishing.
Defries, C.L. 2003. Bald Eagle. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated.
De Koster, K. 1998. Endangered Species. Thomson Gale.
Dudley, K. 1999. Bald Eagles. Steck-Vaughn.
Escoto, D. 2006. Going, Going, Gone Volume One: A Collection of Poems on Endangered Species of the Western Hemisphere. Xlibris Corporation.
Ehrlich, A, and Ehlich, P. 1981. Extinction: The Causes and Consequences of the Disappearance of Species. Random House.
Ehrlich, A. 2008. Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson. Silver Whistle.
Facklam, M. 1993. And Then There Was One: Mysteries of Extinction . Little, Brown.
Fleming, D. 1996. Where Once There Was a Wood. Henry Hold and Co.
George, J. 1997. There’s an Owl in the Shower. HarperTrophy.
Gibbons, G. 1998. Bald Eagles: Soaring With the Wind. Morrow Junior.
Giesel, T. 1971. The Lorax. Random House Children’s Books.
Hamilton, G. 2004. Frog Rescue: Changing the Future for Endangered Wildlife. Firefly Books Limited.
Hickman, P. 2006. Birds of Prey Rescue: Changing the Future for Endangered Wildlife. Firefly Books, Limited.
Hoose, P. 2004. The Race to Save the Lord God Bird. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Jenkins, P. 1996. Falcons Nest on Skyscrapers . HarperTrophy.
Johnson, S. 1995. Raptor Rescue: An Eagle Flies Free. Dutton Juvenile.
Kalman, B. 2006. Endangered Bats. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Lasky, K. 1999. She’s Wearing a Dead Bird on her Head. Hyperion.
Lewis, J. 2003. Swan Song: Poems of Extinction. Creative Editions.
Marcovitz, H. 2002. Bald Eagle. Mason Crest Publishers.
McClung, R.M. 1994. Lost Wild America: The Story of Our Extinct and Vanishing Wildlife. Linnet Books.
Munoz, W. 2000. The Bald Eagle Returns. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Penny, M. 2002. Endangered Species: Our Impact on the Planet. Raintree Publishers.
Pollock, S.T. 1993. Atlas of Endangered Animals. Facts on File, Incorporated.
Salmansohn, P. 2005. Saving Birds: Heroes Around the World. Tilbury House.
Swinburn, S. 2001. Once A Wolf: How Wildlife Biologists Fought to Bring the Gray Wolf. Houghton Mifflin.
Tremblay, E.A. 2003. Rachel Carson: Author, Ecologist. Chelsea House.

Grades 9-12
Breining, G. 1994. Return of the Eagle: How America Saved Its National Symbol. Falcon.
Burton, J.A. 1998. Atlas of Endangered Species. Macmillan Library Reference.
Carson, R. 2002. Silent Spring. Sagebrush Educational Resources.
Fleming, D. 1996. Where Once There Was a Wood. Henry Hold and Co.
Gaughen, S. 2005. Endangered Species. Thomson Gale.
Gessner, D. 2002. Return of the Osprey: A Season of Flight and Wonder. Random House Publishing Group.
Giesel, T. 1971. The Lorax. Random House Children’s Books.
Hoose, P. 2004. The Race to Save the Lord God Bird. Melanie Kroupa Books.
Lewis, J. 2003. Swan Song: Poems of Extinction. Creative Editions.
McClung, R. 1993. Lost Wild America: The Story of Our Extinct and Vanishing Wildlife. Linnet Books.
Minnich, M. 1993. Vanishing Species: The Wildlife Art of Laura Regan. CEDCO Publishing.
Raup, D. 1991. Extinction: Bad Genes, or Bad Luck. W.W. Norton and Co.
Reading, R.P. 2000. Endangered Animals: A Reference Guide to Conflicting Issues. Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Roberts, R. 1998. Endangered Species. Thomson Gale.
Salmonsohn, P. 2005. Saving Birds: Heroes Around the World. Tilbury House.
Stermer, D. 1995. Vanishing Flora. Harry N Abrams Inc.
Tate, M. 2006. Going, Going, Gone: Animals on the Brink of Extinction and How to Turn the Tide. Think Books.
Vergoth, K. 1999. Endangered Species. Scholastic Library Publishing.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

International Migratory Bird Day

Saturday, May 10, 2008 is Migratory Bird Day (visit www.birdday.org for more information). With the following extension to Project Learning Tree’s activity Habitat Pen Pals, students can gain a sense of the many different habitats migratory birds live in.

After completing the activity as instructed in the PLT guide, show students pictures of migratory birds that use the same habitats as the animals they just discussed. For example, a scarlet tanager lives in the tropical rain forests of South America during the winter, but lives in the deciduous forests of southeast Canada, and eastern United State in the summer. Show students a map of North and South America, and have them trace the paths of the major flyways. What types of habitats do birds see as they travel to their destinations? Using the example, the scarlet tanager travels through ocean, saltwater marsh, alpine forests, and prairie habitats. What animals does this bird see in each of the habitats?

Promote the following International Migratory Bird Day events in Iowa, and see if there are more in your community.



Book List
Grades PreK-2
Allen, K. 2006. Why Do Geese Fly South in Winter?: A Book About Migration. Capstone Press.
Collard, S. 2002. Beaks!. Charlesbridge Publishing.
Cherry, L. 1997. Flute’s Journey: The Life of a Wood Thrush. Harcourt Brace.
Crossingham, J. 1997. What Is Migration. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Goodall, J. and Reichstein, A. 2002. Eagle and the Wren: A Fable. Michael Neugebauer (North South Books).
Kiesler, K. 2002. Wings on the Wind: Bird Poems. Clarion Books.
Maslowski, S. 2001. Birds in Fall. Smart Apple Media.
Owens, M. 1993. Counting Cranes. Little Brown and Company.
Ryder, J. 1989. Catching the Wind. Mulberry Books.
Rockwell, A. 1992. Our Yard is Full of Birds. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Sayre, A. 1998. Home At Last – A Song of Migration. Henry Holt & Company.
Sill, C. 1997. About Birds: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.
Wood, D. 2001. Rabbit and the Moon. Aladdin.

Grades 3 – 5
Bredeson, C. 2002. Animals That Migrate. Franklin Watts.
Cherry, L. 1997. Flute's Journey: The Life of a Wood Thrush. Harcourt Brace.
Collard, S. 2002. Beaks!. Charlesbridge Publishing.
Davies, J. 2004. The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon. Houghton Mifflin Company
Kiesler, K. 2002. Wings on the Wind: Bird Poems. Clarion Books.
Knight, T. 2003. Marvelous Migrators. Heinemann.
Lerner, C. 2001. On the Wing: American Birds in Migration. HarperCollins.
Spinelli, E. 2000. Song for the Whooping Crane. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Willis, C. 2006. Red Knot: A Shorebird’s Incredible Journey. Birdsong Books.

Grades 6 – 8
Arnold, C. 1997. Hawk Highway in the Sky: Watching Raptor Migration. Gulliver Green.
Arnold, C. 2003. Birds: Nature’s Magnificent Flying Machines. Charlesbridge Publishing.
Bishop, N. 1997. The Secrets of Animal Flight. Houghton Mifflin.
Blassingame, W. 1982. Wonders of Egrets, Bitterns, and Herons. Penguin Group (USA).
Featherly, J. 1986. Ko-Hoh: The Call of the Trumpeter Swan. Carolrhoda Books.
Gans, R, Mirocha, P. 1996. How Do Birds Find Their Way?. HarperTrophy.
Kiesler, K. 2002. Wings on the Wind: Bird Poems. Clarion Books.
Nielsen, N.J. 1991. Animal Migration. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Rylant, C. 2006. The Journey: Stories of Migration. Blue Sky Press.
Spinelli, E. 2000. Song for the Whooping Crane. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Frog Calls
Students may recognize lions, bears, and whales are wildlife. However, do they know wildlife lives in Iowa? In their schoolyard? In their classroom? Project WILD’s activity “Wildlife is Everywhere” lets students look for signs of animals indoors and outdoors. This simple exploratory activity lets students think about the term “wildlife” in a new way, and shows that wildlife is all around them.

Extend this activity by joining the National Wildlife Federation’s new event, “Record the Ribbit” (visit www.nwf.org/ribbit for more information). On Saturday May 3rd, 2008, take a group of students out, or encourage them and parents to go outside to look for frogs. The previously mentioned website contains downloadable flyers and links to learning about frogs and toads. On May 3rd, the same website will become the data entry point for all Record the Ribbit data. This website will be easy to navigate for young people.


Book List
Grades PreK-2
Berger, M. 2003. Spinning Spiders. HarperCollins.
Capogna, V.V. 1999. Did You Ever Wonder about Things You Find in Your Backyard? Marshall Cavendish Inc.
Cole, H. 1998. I Took a Walk. Greenwillow Books.
Cronin, D. 2003. Diary of a Worm. Joanna Cotler.
Dexter, R. 1996. Frogs. Troll Communications.
Fredericks, A. 2001. Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs, and Other Ughs. Dawn Publications.
Froman, N. 2001. What’s That Bug?: Everyday Insects and Their Really Cool Cousins. Madison Press Book.
Giogas, V. 2007. In My Backyard. Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Glaser, L. 1994. Wonderful Worms. Millbrook Press.
Heller, R. 1995. How to Hide a Meadow Frog and Other Amphibians. Groslett & Dunlap.
Himmelman, J. 2000. A Pillbug’s Life. Children’s Press/Grolier.
Hunter, A. 1999. What’s Under the Log. Houghton Mifflin.
Jordan, S. 2002. Frog Hunt. Roaring Book Press.
Koontz, R.M. 1998. The Complete Backyard Nature Activity Book: Fun Projects for Kids to Learn About the Wonders of Wildlife and Nature. McGraw-Hill.
Lionni, L. 1995. Inch by Inch. HarperTrophy.
Lionni, L. 1998. An Extraordinary Egg. Dragonfly Books.
Moignot, D. 1998. Frogs: A First Discovery Book. Moonlight Publishing.
Morrison, G. 2004. Nature in the Neighborhood. Walter Loraine Books/Houghton Mifflin.
Posada, M. 2002. Ladybugs: Red, Fiery, and Bright. Carlrhorda.
Raintree Steck-Vaughn. 1987. Animals in Cities and Parks. Steck-Vaughn.
Ryder, J. 1988. The Snail’s Spell. Puffin.
Thornhill, J. 1996. Wild in the City. Sierra Club Books for Children.
Wheeler, J.C. 1993. Beastly Neighbors. ABDO Publishing Company.

Grades 3-5
Barrons Educational Series. 2000. Urban Animal. Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.
Berger, M. 2003. Spinning Spiders. HarperCollins.
Bernard, R. 2002. Insects. National Geographic Society.
Bial, R. 2000. A Handful of Dirt. Walker.
Brenner, B. 1997. Thinking About Ants. Mondo Publishing.
Brenner, B. 2004. One Small Space in a Tree. HarperCollins Publishers.
Fisher, A. 1986. When it Comes to Bugs. HarperCollins Publishers.
Florian, D. 2002. Insectlopedia: Poems and Paintings. Voyager Books.
Florian, D. 2005. Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs. Voyager Books.
Fredericks, A. 2000. Slugs. Lerner Publications.
Glaser, L. 1999. Spectacular Spiders. Millbrook.
Green, J. 2002. In a Backyard. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Hodgkins, F. 2000. Animals among Us: Living with Suburban Wildlife. Shoe String Press, Incorporated.
Kirkland, J. 2006. Take a City Nature Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Murawski, D. 2000. Bug Faces. National Geographic Children’s Books.
Murawski, D. 2004. Spiders and Their Webs. National Geographic Society.
Porte, B. 1999. Tale of a Tadpole. Scholastic.
Rockwell, A. 2001. Bugs are Insects. HarperTrophy.

Grades 6-8
Chinery, M. 1997. Ants. Troll Communications.
Jackson, D. 2004. The Bug Scientists. Houghton Mifflin.
Johnson, J. 1997. Simon and Schuster – Children’s Guide to Insects and Spiders. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Murawski, D. 2004. Spiders and Their Webs. National Geographic Society.